And who has a SmartAntenna? Who'll know how or where to buy one? Will it be easy to mount indoors, or wherever the current antenna may be? How much more $$$$ will the SmartAntenna cost? Who will understand what it's all about? Will anybody be convinced it's worth anything?

The point is, the digital transition in itself will bend the minds of the average American OTA viewer. I don't think they'll want to bend their minds more learning about a "smart antenna"; they'll just want the box to work with what they've got. A sixth-gen 8-VSB chip will help a lot more people in this regard than a SmartAntenna connector or a fifth-gen chip combined.

And who has a SmartAntenna? Who'll know how or where to buy one? Will it be easy to mount indoors, or wherever the current antenna may be? How much more $$$$ will the SmartAntenna cost? Who will understand what it's all about? Will anybody be convinced it's worth anything?

The point is, the digital transition in itself will bend the minds of the average American OTA viewer. I don't think they'll want to bend their minds more learning about a "smart antenna"; they'll just want the box to work with what they've got. A sixth-gen 8-VSB chip will help a lot more people in this regard than a SmartAntenna connector or a fifth-gen chip combined.

Seriously, there are going to be a demand at the end of 2008/early 2009 for these things down in SE Arkansas from the rural-elderly crowd. Even though the area I live in has high D* and E* penetration many OTA antennas still stand, and nearly all are VHF/UHF combos or older VHF-only antennas. And these are not those in houses with the "tar paper" shacks or trailer parks, but generally socially conservative folk that often fear the "Internet" and "Cable TV" content.

What's the difference between the LSX300-4DM and DTT900? Will the Insignia version have functionally identical remotes and menus (I can understand slight cosmetic differences)? And why's the RCA DTA800 not on the list?

Now how to get that info to Americans? And again, who's going to want or care about mounting brand new antenna equipment, or understanding how it works, when the box can work fine with what they've already got (unless their current antenna doesn't support UHF)?

What's the difference between the LSX300-4DM and DTT900? Will the Insignia version have functionally identical remotes and menus (I can understand slight cosmetic differences)? And why's the RCA DTA800 not on the list?

Now how to get that info to Americans? And again, who's going to want or care about mounting brand new antenna equipment, or understanding how it works, when the box can work fine with what they've already got (unless their current antenna doesn't support UHF)?

All good questions... I don't have the answers. Let's stay tuned and see.

That was years ago and they said it because construction costs were high. With the forced phase out of analog, and construction prices way down because you can put more circuits on one chip, they might have a change of plan.

I guess the smarmy tone should be expected from Cable News.
But, uhh, I don't need your stinking cable to get HDTV, and, frankly, the box and an old analog TV will probably be near as good as your bit-starved offerings.

You know I think I will get one. The Zenith box will have LG's 6th generation tuner in it, so I can use it as a back-up for times when my built-in HDTV tuner in my big screen TV does not work. I guess with the 40 buck discount, and the boxes selling for 60 bucks, it will cost only 20 bucks. Is that correct? Are all the brands of boxes going to cost the same?

You know I think I will get one. The Zenith box will have LG's 6th generation tuner in it, so I can use it as a back-up for times when my built-in HDTV tuner in my big screen TV does not work. I guess with the 40 buck discount, and the boxes selling for 60 bucks, it will cost only 20 bucks. Is that correct? Are all the brands of boxes going to cost the same?

Component video, DVI & HDMI are DISQUALIFYING FEATURES. Therefore if these boxes have been certified for the NTIA $40 coupon, they CANNOT possess any HD output. Oh well.

Looks like we have to hope for a "penumbra" effect where the cost of SDTV standalone tuners plummets due to tremendous demand. Then the much tinier market for HDTV standalone tuners benefits from the reduced cost of the components and hopefully these HDTV tuners will be offered more cheaply than they are now due to economies of scale on the supply side (though the demand side is small).

Is there proof that any of them do HD output? I read the specs for some & I know some of these only have S-video or composite output (depending on the brand), in addition to RF out.

To be eligible for the coupon rebate, they are FORBIDDEN to. (I imagine they have to prove they DON'T to the government to get certified.) The government is subsidizing people with old analog tvs, not HDTVs.

You want a standalone HDTV capable ATSC tuner ? - Pay up, full price, whatever you can find. As stated above - these converter boxes are FORBIDDEN to have any HDTV outputs (HDMI, DVI, component, TOSLINK, Digital Coax audio) whatsoever. The primary purpose is to allow the old analog TVs to receive the ATSC signals, and to that end, all they need for outputs are RF modulator, s-video, composite video, and at least 1 set RCA analog audio output jacks.

I assume they will connect via S-video or antenna inputs on your TV. For $20 it is a good deal as a back-up unit. I already have full HDTV built into my set, but the tuner chip I have is probably only 3rd generation. It works most of the time, but not all of the time. With a cheap back-up at least I will get a picture and never miss a show, even if it's not HDTV. I would pay $200. for a LG 6th generation full HDTV receiver today, but there are none available and I don't want one of those crappy little computer devices.

Samsung has a 6th generation chip out, so I assume they may sell a new full HDTV tuner soon using that new chip. I might buy that if it gets good reviews. I am on the first floor of a 4 story building with a metal roof, and I am surrounded by trees and other buildings. I need the best tuner I can get.

It's seems to me that the looks of a little black converter box is rather insignificant, compared to features and performance of the box. Personally, I don't find this model better looking than the Zenith or RCA models.

It's seems to me that the looks of a little black converter box is rather insignificant, compared to features and performance of the box. Personally, I don't find this model better looking than the Zenith or RCA models.

Avio

Why would anyone buy any box other than the Zenith. It is the only one with the LG tuner chip, which is the chip you want.